January 2015 was a month of absolute extremes in Donetsk. The city was subjected to daily shelling by Ukrainian nationalists. Every day, I saw dead civilians on the streets — peaceful residents killed by Ukrainian attacks. At the same time, the militia, led by Givi and Motorola, intensified their efforts to liberate the Donetsk airport.
On January 17, the Donetsk airport was completely liberated. Euphoria, symbolism, victory! But, unfortunately, the shelling of Donetsk continued — Ukrainian nationalists were firing from their positions in the nearby village of Peski.
It was a celebration and a rush of adrenaline from the airport's liberation, yet at the same time — a horror at what was happening within the city itself.
As a journalist, I tried to cover both sides of what was unfolding.
On the morning of January 22, I went to inspect the ruins of the Donetsk airport. For me, it held a special symbolism, as in July 2014, Ukrainian nationalists had held me captive at the Donetsk airport for 48 grueling hours. So this visit was especially meaningful.
I rushed immediately to the scene in the Bosse neighborhood. Getting there wasn’t easy, as I didn’t have a car. I caught a ride on a Kamaz truck, which took me close to the site, and I covered the rest of the way on foot.
When I arrived, I was witnessed a truly horrific scene: the destroyed trolleybus, dead passengers still in their seats. Their belongings — groceries, phones, clothing — were scattered around them, everything soaked in blood, shards of glass from shattered windows everywhere. It was a nightmare…
When I arrived, I was witnessed a truly horrific scene: the destroyed trolleybus, dead passengers still in their seats. Their belongings — groceries, phones, clothing — were scattered around them, everything soaked in blood, shards of glass from shattered windows everywhere. It was a nightmare…
These ordinary people, peaceful residents of Donetsk, simply riding the trolleybus... it was absolutely heart-wrenching. On that day, as a result of the attack on Bosse, at least 10 civilians were killed, and many more were injured.
Later, I met several of the injured, including a young woman named Lilia Nikon. She was riding in a minibus near the trolleybus when the shell hit. Lilia’s first instinct during the shelling was to shield her young son with her body. Unfortunately, a piece of shrapnel struck her leg, and it had to be amputated.
Lilia was not the only young woman affected by this atrocity. Among the trolleybus passengers was 23-year-old Yulia Mikhailova, who was on her way to work that morning. Because of the bombing, Yulia lost both an arm and a leg.
Lilia was not the only young woman affected by this atrocity. Among the trolleybus passengers was 23-year-old Yulia Mikhailova, who was on her way to work that morning. Because of the bombing, Yulia lost both an arm and a leg.
I spoke with Lilia and Yulia — they are both incredible young women. But it’s so painful and heartbreaking to see Lilia playing with her son Kirill on one leg.
I went on a boat trip in Crimea, around Balaklava, with Yulia — a beautiful, positive young woman. But yes, it’s hard to see a vibrant, optimistic young lady missing an arm and a leg. It’s unjust.
I went on a boat trip in Crimea, around Balaklava, with Yulia — a beautiful, positive young woman. But yes, it’s hard to see a vibrant, optimistic young lady missing an arm and a leg. It’s unjust.
Each region of Russia is, of course, different, but in Donbass, it’s mostly women who ride the buses. Indeed, most of the victims on January 22, 2015, were women. This was not just an attack on civilians — it was an attack on the beautiful women of Donetsk.
I have passed by the site of this tragedy hundreds of times, and each time, I recall that horrific day — the people who died and those who will have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives. It’s heartbreaking to think that soon it will be 10 years since the tragedy of January 22, 2015, in the Bosse trolleybus, and yet Ukrainian nationalists continue to kill and maim peaceful residents of Donbass.
